Circuit controlling device



July 4, 1933. w. T. WELCH CIRCUIT CONTROLLING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 14, 1931 fim QH R QM an N W wu July 4, 1933. w. T. WELCH CIRCUIT CONTROLLING DEVICE Filed Dec. 14, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Am. mi

AN. wb Gm Patented July 4,1933

UNITED STATES WILLIAM T. WEIJCI -I, OF NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA CIRCUIT CONTROLLING nnvIcn Application filed. December 14, 1931. Serial No. 580,991.

Thepresent invention relates to circuit controlling devices, and'more particularly to a device which is commercially known as a street lighting relay.

In devices of this character coils are used which not infrequently burn out or otherwise become inoperative, and their replacement must be made and at the present time requires the removal of a number of connections and parts and the replacing of such parts and connections when a change in the coil is found necessary in replacing the damaged coil. v

An object of the present invention is to overcome the time consuming difficulties of replacing these coils and to provide a construction wherein the coils may be snapped into and out of place with the facility of an ordinary fuse, wherein it is unnecessary to disturb any of the connections as the various leads are permanently disposed either on the coil frame ,or yoke or on the fixed panel upon which the relay is mounted.

Another object of the cresent invention is to provide a relay of this type with a coil carrying a frame part which may be quickly and easily snapped into and removed from the holding and connecting parts which are mounted permanently upon a panel, or the like.

"With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention will be more fully described hereinafter, and will be more pan ticularly pointed out inthe claims appended hereto.

In the drawings, wherein like symbols refer to like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, s

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a street lighting relay constructed according to the present'invention.

Figure 2 is a side-elevation of the same.

Figure 3 is a front elevation of a slightly modified form of a street relay embodying the features of this invention.

Figure 4c is a side elevation of the same, and

Figure 5 is a top form. 7 7 50 Referring now-to the drawings, and first elevation of the modified to the forms shown in Figures 1 and 2, 1O designates a panel board of insulating material upon the lower end of which is mounted suitable circuit connectors 11 of any desired type which are controlled by switch contacts 12 arranged intermediately on the board and adapted for operation under the influence of a coil. 13. From the connections 11 panel leads 14 and 15 extend over the panel board 10 toward the upper end thereof and are con- 69 nected by means of'screws 16 to the lower ends of contact strips 17. The upper ends of the strips 17 are preferably disposed beneath the bases of spring clips .18, one arranged at each upper corner port-ion of the panel 10 '5 I and having each a pair of outwardly extending arched arms 19 forming resilient jaws which open outwardly from the panel board 10 and which are in electrical communication with their respective panelleads 14 and 15 and form switch connectors.

The coil 13 is mounted within a laminated frame '20 which preferably extends outwardly at right angles to thepanel board 10 and which at its upper end is secured by screws 21, or the like, to a yoke or cross strip 22 of insulating material which is provided with depending arms at opposite ends and upon the outer sides of which are 'disposed ferrules 23 of an electricity conducting material providing switch connectors" adapted to snap intoposition between the spring arms or switch connectors 19 of the clips 18. The insulating strip or yoke 22 thusextends across the top of the coil 13 and between the spaced apart spring clips 18.. The coil 13 has one lead 24 extending from the coilto one of the switch connectors 23 and is securedthereto by a screw 25 and a washer 26 so that the-lead 24 is in electrical contact with the switch connector 23 and the latter in turn isin electrical contact with the adjacent switch connector 19 and the panel lead 14. The oppositelead 27 from the coil 13 is connected to the-opposite switch connector 23 by a like screw 25 and washer 26 so that the'lead 27 is connected through c the connector 23' and the adjacent connecto 19 with the opposite panel lead 15.

The frame 20 of the coil is provided at its I opposite sides of the block 31.

lower inner corner with one or more depending lugs 28 which preferably rest against the outer face of the panel 10 and which engage behind a pair of fixed cleats 29 secured by. screws 30, or the like, to the face of the panel 10. The lugs 28 may be removed from the cleats 29 by an outward movement of the laminated frame 20 with the coil 13 and then an upward movement of the coil 13 and its frame, and the cleats 29 are spaced at their upper ends fromthe lugs 28 "a distance sufficient to admit of the forward swinging of the coil 13 with" its frame 20 to free the coil from the spring clips 18 before the coil is lifted free of the cleats.

Thus, to remove the coil 13 from the panel lOand the fixed parts carried by the panel it is only necessary to draw the frame outwardly, swinging the frame upon the cleats 29 until the switch connectors 23 are freed from the spring arms 19. The coil may now be slightly raised to free the lugs 28 from the cleats 29 and the coil then removed completely from the panel. A replacement coil may then be quickly inserted in place by first en a 'in the lu s thereof beind the b b t) :3

cleats 29 and then by inward and downward movement forcing the ferrules or switch connectors 23 between the spring arms or stationary switch connectors 19. This position of the coil re-establishes the necessary connections between the coil 13 and the leads 1 1 and 15 of the panel board 10.

Referring now to the-modified form shown in Figures 3', 4: and 5, the panel board 10 may have the usual circuit connections and arma- 'ture as above describedin connection with ingblock or strip31 on its upper end secured by. one or more screws 32. taming clip 33 lssecured by a screw 34, or

The sprlng rethe like, to'the upper centraledgeportion of thepanel 10 and extends forwardly in overhanging relation with respect to the block 31 and yieldingly snaps over the adjacent screw '32 m holding the block 31swith the @011 and its frame against the front of the panel board An electrical contact between the leads of the coil 13 and the leads of the panel board is made by carrying the leads 24 and '27 of the coil upwardly and securing the same in electrlcal contact by the screws 35 to the switchconnectors 36 which are disposed at The connectors 36 are adaptedfor engagement'by spring arms or stationary switch connectors 37 which are secured by screws 38, or the like, to the face of the panel board 10near the upper opposite corners thereof. The con nectors 37 extend outwardly in spaced apart relation and are curved outwardly in opposite directions at their extremities for yieldingly receiving the block 31 and its switch connectors 36 therebetween, as shown in Figure 5. The screws 38 hold the upper ends of the contact strips 17 in electrical connection with the stationary switch connectors 37 so' cleats 29. The coil 13 is now free from the panel-board and may be quickly and easily replaced by a new coil. Inpositioning the new coil, the lugs 28 are engaged behind the cleats29 and the block 31 is forced inwardly between the switch connectors 37 and beneath the spring arm 33 so that the latter may snap over the screw 32 to hold the coil rigidly against the panel 10. The switch connectors 37 automatically complete the circuit between the panel leads 1 1 and 15 and the coil leads 2 1 and 27. V

In the modified form of the invent-ion shown in Figures 3 and 5', it will be noted that the switch connectors 37 not only serve 15? to complete the circuit through the coil 13 but also to yieldingly hold the'coil in proper position upon the cleats 29 and cooperate with the upper spring arm 33 for holding the H coil removably on the panel board.

It is obvious that various changes and modifications may be made in the details ofconstruction and design ofthe above specifically described embodiment of this invention without departing from the spirit thereof, such changes and modifications being restricted only by the scope of the following claims:

lVhat is claimed is: 1. The combination with a relay having a panel board, a coil and a laminated coil rframafixed switch connectors arranged on the panel-board at opposite sides of the coil, cooperating switch connectors mounted on the coil frame and connected to the opposite .ends of the coil, said panel board and coil switch connectors disposed in registering relation and adapted for interengagement to connect the coil in the circuit, and means for releasably supporting the coil in position.

2. In a relay, the combination with a panel board having panel leads thereon, fixed switch connectors mounted in spaced relation andconnected respectively to the leads, a coil having a frame, a releasable support for said coil and frame, and switch connectors carried by the coil frame and connected to the oppositeends of the coil respectively and disposed in line with the fixed connectors on the panel board for frictional contact therewith to complete the circuit through the coil and for holding the coil in position on the releasable support.

8. In a relay, a panel board, a coil disposed at the front of the panel board, a frame for the coil, a releasable support between the panel board and the coil frame, a yieldable combined switch connector and holding means carried by the panel board and the coil frame for holding the latter on the panel board and establishing electrical communication between the panel board and the coil.

4. A relay, comprising a panel board hav, ing leads thereon with fixed switch connectors connected to the leads, a coil having a frame, seating means carried by the panel board for receiving said coil frame thereon, and spaced switch connectors carried by the coil frame connected to the coil and adapted for releasable engagement with the fixed connectors of the panel board.

5. A relay, comprising a panel board having leads thereon terminating in fixed spring switch connectors, a coil having a coil frame and provided with a depending lug at its lower end, a cleat carried by the panel board adapted to receive said lug thereon for supporting the coil and its frame, removable switch connectors carried by the coil frame and connected to the coil and adapted for frictional engagement with the fixed spring connectors for establishing communication between the coil and the panel leads and for yieldingly holding the coil and its frame on said cleat.

' 6. A relay, comprising a panel board hav-' a frame, a support mounted on the panel board adapted to receive the said frame thereon, switch connectors carried by the coil frame and connected to the coil and comj prising spaced apart contact pieces adapted for snapping engagement between the pairs of spring arms of the respective connectors for yicldingly holding the coil and its frame on the panel board when seated on said support and for establishing communication through the coil between the leads of the panel board.

7-. A relay, comprising a panel board having leads and spaced apart spring switch connectors connected independently to the leads, a coil havmg a frame, spacedv switch.

connectors mounted on the coil frame and adapted for frictional engagement between the spring connectors of the panel board for holding the coil and the frame in upright position on the panel board, a rest carried by the panel board for supporting the coil from downward displacement on the panel board, and a spring clip carried by the panel board adapted to engage the coil frame for yieldingly holding the-same, on said rest and" between said spring connectors.

8. A relay, comprising a panel board having leads thereon, a pair of spaced apart spring switch connectors connected independently to the leads and extending outwardly from the upper end of the panel board, a cleat on the panel board, a coil having a frame provided with a depending lug adapted to engage the cleat for supporting the frame on the panel board, a yoke mounted on the upper end of the coil frame, spaced switch connectors carried at opposite sides of the yoke and connected to the opposite ends of the coil, said yoke adapted to be swung between said spring connectors of the panel board for, establishing communication between said leads and the coil, and a spring finger carried upon the upper'end of the panel board and extending outwardly therefrom for frictional engagement with the yoke of the coil frame to hold the latter in upright position on the cleat. I

In testimony whereof I am): my signature.

WILLIAM T. WELCH; 

